I Tried FaceGym, the Celeb-Loved Facial "Workout" That Snatches Your Face

Fact checked by Anna HarrisReviewed by Lucy Chen, MD

We know a hard-won workout does a body good, but what about working out the facial muscles? We know what you're thinking, "my face can't lift weights so how exactly would it 'work out?'" But, there's a place called FaceGym and they've crafted a curriculum specifically for working out the muscles in your face. The 411: it's a quasi-facial experience that's like an intense, sweaty, full-body workout, but for the face muscles. As self-proclaimed facial fanatics—we've undergone chemical peels, micro-needling, micro-current facials, and the list goes on– when we heard about this treatment that promises to tone, tighten, and sculpt facial muscles in minutes, we knew we had to give it a go.

Much like the rest of us, Maya Allen was captivated the moment she heard that one could partake in a cardio session for the face. So she did as any beauty editor would do and volunteered herself as tribute. Keep scrolling as she recounts her personal experience along with insight from FaceGym founder Inge Theron and two board-certified dermatologists.

Meet the Expert

• Inge Theron is the London-based founder of FaceGym.

• Michele Farber, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.

• Brendan Camp, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.

What Is FaceGym?

FaceGym is described as a workout, not a facial, that uses high-energy kneading movements and cutting-edge technology meant to tone and tighten 40 muscles in the face. Before my face hit the gym, I talked to the founder to get the lowdown on this innovative treatment. I was curious about how this genius idea came to be.

"Prior to FaceGym, I traveled the world trialing beauty treatments," says Theron. "When a botched thread surgical procedure left me with visible blue threads running through each of my cheeks, I realized there must be a more effective, safer way to achieve results. I stripped it back to basics and thought, we need to work out our face muscles just like our body muscles."

With that, she created FaceGym. Unlike going to a regular gym, all you have to do is lie back and let your personal face trainer do the hard work for you. Theron explains that besides using their hands, FaceGym experts also use a tool called FaceGym Pro, which is a unique electrical muscle stimulation device that emits mild yet forceful electrical waves meant to stimulate muscles, contour cheekbones, and restore skin's elasticity. "FaceGym is unlike any facial on the market. Instead of extracting pores or working on the skin, our face workouts work on the muscles behind the skin to refresh and revitalize the skin but also to lift, tone, and contour," says Theron. "Stronger muscles mean tighter, firmer skin and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles."

Benefits of FaceGym

According to Theron, the benefits of FaceGym are aplenty:

• Stimulates blood circulation

• Promotes collagen production

• Visibly tones and lifts the face

"Our signature technique uses vigorous knuckling movements and high-energy whipping strokes to stimulate blood circulations, collagen production, and cell renewal to lift, tone, and tighten the face," explains Theron.

I say yes to all of the above, so I was 100 percent down for this sweat sesh.

How to Prepare for FaceGym

Face workouts need to be done on clean, makeup-free skin, so it's smart to arrive to your sweat sesh with a blank canvas. Your trainer will incorporate the skin products that will best benefit whichever facial workout you've booked, so you don't need to worry about preparing much else.

What to Expect at FaceGym

I was fortunate to preview FaceGym before its services hit the U.S. I walked into the dimly lit room reminiscent of an empty warehouse, and music was blasting. Not the classical music you're used to in a facial spa though—fun music. The large, open space featured a large reclining mirror in the middle next to a large vanity mirror decked out with FaceGym skin products. I sat down, and the FaceGym specialist started going to work on my face.

First up, the warmup. My trainer used her fingers and knuckles to apply pressure to my face to wake up my face muscles. She did this by using hand techniques like knuckling, face-balling, high-speed hand-whipping, flicking, and pinching my face and neck area. By the time she was done, all the muscles in my face felt alert and stretched out.

Next was a heavy focus on my jawline area—a part of my face that carries the most tension because of talking, chewing, and clenching. Using a FaceGym movement known as deep-finger sculpting and lifting, she massaged both sides of my jaw in an upward motion for about 10 minutes to increase stimulation. Afterward, my tight and stressed muscles felt loose. It was a legitimate detox session that was a little more intense than usual. I wouldn't say my skin actually sweat, but it definitely wasn't relaxing or calming. It was truly like a workout.

Next was cardio (aka muscle manipulation). Sidebar: My skin was the most shook during this part of the session. My trainer used a "micro-contouring technique" with a tool that essentially lifted my jaw, cheekbone, and eye area. I literally felt my face muscles moving with every direction the tool went—it was invigorating, weird, and cool at the same time. It was not painful. It was rather stimulating, actually, and felt like a muscle magnet with slightly more intensity. I'd love to use this tool on tired mornings when eye puffiness creeps in because it would knock that right out.

Afterward, every part of my face felt lifted. After completing one side of my face, the trainer showed me a mirror, and one of my eyebrows was legitimately one to two inches higher than the other. Crazy—but amazing.

Afterward, the trainer applied a few oil-based FaceGym serums and moisturizers followed by the electrical muscle stimulation device. This oxygen blaster was used to restore moisture in my skin, stimulate my muscles even more, and redefine my bone structure. The noise of the machine was scarier than it felt, which was like gentle electrical shocks. To be honest, this was the most intense part of the workout. Finally, it was cool-down time. My trainer pulled out a jade roller and it felt nice and cold, which took the heat off of my face from my workout.

The entire process took about 45 minutes. Afterward, my bone structure looked more defined, my brows were lifted, and my cheekbones were naturally contoured. It was a nonsurgical facelift and contour—sans needles and makeup. I was obsessed and could not stop taking selfies. I didn't wear makeup for a whole week because I didn't need to. My skin felt firm, strong, and snatched. My face felt similar to how toned your body feels after a great workout.

Potential Side Effects

"The effects are temporary, as stimulating the facial muscles will temporarily improve tone and make skin appear more plump," says board-certified dermatologist Michele Farber, MD. "There is theoretical risk of increased wrinkling as increased muscle movement can cause wrinkling. There is not great scientific evidence backing facial workouts."

"The static lines that appear on our foreheads, between our eyebrows, and around our eyes develop as a result of repeated facial muscle contractions over time," echoes board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD. "Theoretically, because they cause muscle stimulation, FaceGym workouts may contribute to the formation of lines and wrinkles."

And of course, if you have severely sensitive skin, you'll want to let your trainer know. Other than that, there's no known side effects to face workouts.

FaceGym Workouts vs. In-Office Treatments

While we're all about putting in time at the gym, we can't help but wonder how a facial muscle workout compares to more tech-heavy in-office alternatives suited to delivering similar benefits. "FaceGym workouts stimulate muscle contraction to improve skin tone and facilitate lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling and puffiness. The results are immediate but temporary," explains Dr. Camp. "In-office treatments, such as lasers and radiofrequency microneedling, improve skin tightness and quality by encouraging collagen production. The results are not immediate, but are more durable."

"FaceGym workouts may be a convenient way to enhance your appearance before an important event because it offers immediate results, a noninvasive approach, and no downtime," Dr. Camp continues. "But it should be noted that there is little scientific evidence to support the claim that facial muscle exercise treatments offer long-term results."

While both FaceGym workouts and in-office treatments require frequent sessions to reach and maintain desired results, booking into a local FaceGym could be easier than finding a spot with your preferred aesthetician or medical professional. FaceGym sessions are also typically less costly than a single in-office treatment. That said, FaceGym currently only has locations in NYC, LA, London, Manchester, and Sydney, which could make a visit relatively inaccessible for anyone outside those urban areas.

Cost

FacyGym offers several treatment, or workout, options ranging from $125 to $350 per session. Depending on the booking type, a session can last between 45 and 85 minutes. The higher-priced treatments have a longer duration and can include the addition of advanced skincare technology such as radio frequency, microneedling, and LED lights.

Aftercare

It is recommended to use a jade roller as the final step of your FaceGym workout. The claim is that it drains away toxins in the skin and cools down muscles—similar to stretching out your body after an intense workout.

FaceGym also has their own line of products that the trainers use in each session that are available to purchase for at-home use. Their Pro Tool Kit ($613), while it's certainly a splurge, can be great for those living in areas where there isn't a FaceGym location or if you want to keep up the results on your own after a FaceGym workout.

The Final Takeaway

Basically, I'm addicted to the instant effect it had on my face. I know, I know, I sound like a stereotypical millennial who craves immediate gratification. But, I'm fine with that because this answered so many of my skin's prayers. Who doesn't want to walk out of a room with their face more lifted, more defined, and more toned?

However, although results are immediate, according to dermatologists, they're temporary and research is still required on the efficacy of such treatments. So, if you have a big event coming up where you want to look toned and lifted, go for it. But, if you have longer term goals or are looking for a more invasive treatment to smooth wrinkles or to treat advanced aging, you might want to consult with a dermatologist about your options.

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Read the original article on Byrdie.